A few years back when I got my first MV that had gross weight in excess of
26,000 pounds, (some over 37,000) and a maxium GVWR of over 210,000
pounds - (truck, trailer and load)... I will never even get close to
this......
I checked on CDLs, got the book to study for test, then I discovered my
truck would not pass the pre-drive exam, nothing wrong with truck; problem
with truck is the brake system specified by Army will not pass commercial
specifiications and I can not afford to make the changes. Brakes work fine,
problem is that when you have no air you have no brakes, hence truck sitting
still air will leak off and truck can roll. Unlike commercial air brake
systems, air leaks away on them and brakes are locked in the applied
position. I dive this truck very little at 2 MPG not much fun.
More reading book lead me to the conclusion that unless I was engaged in
hauling for hire I did not need CDLs - Tennessee - after much checking DOT
agreed, however they will not give me this in writing, they suggest I make
copy of book page that said Recretaional Vehicles do not require CDLs.
I have another military truck with gross weight in excess of 32,000 pounds,
I have been through safety check THP road blocks driving it, drove past
weight scales, never had a probem. Never looked for any trouble and never
found any.
Everette